Orchid Health
San Francisco, US · Founded 2019 · Delaware corporation · 64 employees on LinkedIn · 7 known investors
Orchid offers whole genome sequencing-based genetic screening of embryos during IVF as well as preconception testing for couples, analyzing DNA to identify predispositions to monogenic diseases, chromosomal abnormalities, and polygenic risks. It serves prospective parents and IVF patients, delivering reports reviewed by board-certified genetic counselors.
Also known as Orchid · Orchid Inc.
Founders & leadership
Board
Investors · 7
Also in the syndicate · 2
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$3M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2019–2021
▶$3MraisedJul 2019 · 22 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Alexandra MeyerExecutive Officer, Director
- Emily AnhaltExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $3M
- Amount sold
- $3M
- First sale
- May 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Orchid is a San Francisco-based reproductive technology company that provides genetic screening built on whole genome sequencing. Its two main offerings are the Embryo Report, an advanced genetic screen performed on embryos during IVF, and the Couple Report, a preconception test that measures a future child's genetic predisposition to disease. The Embryo Report consolidates results that would otherwise require separate tests — PGT-A (extra or missing chromosomes), PGT-M (single-gene conditions), PGT-SR (structural rearrangements, including distinguishing euploid embryos from balanced carriers) and PGT-P (genetic risk scores) — into a single report. Screening categories include neurodevelopmental disorders, hereditary cancers, birth defects, and polygenic risk scores for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, atrial fibrillation, bipolar disorder, breast cancer, celiac disease, class III obesity, coronary artery disease, inflammatory bowel disease, prostate cancer, schizophrenia and type I and type II diabetes, with additional conditions (childhood asthma, endometriosis, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis) available by request.
The testing workflow begins with a pre-screening consultation with a board-certified genetic counselor, after which the patient's IVF physician orders the test and an embryologist sends roughly five cells from the trophectoderm (placenta side) of each embryo — the same material used for standard PGT — to Orchid's laboratory. Orchid's scientific team analyzes the sequencing data and produces a per-embryo report, and results are then reviewed with the patient by a board-certified genetic counselor. As described in 2021 press coverage, the earlier consumer-facing flow started with an at-home saliva test of both prospective parents to identify carrier status for ten diseases; couples identified as carriers could then pursue IVF at a clinic offering Orchid's embryo tests, where physicians would use the results for what the founder termed "embryo prioritization" — ranking embryos by disease risk.
The company describes its mission as extending the healthspan of the next generation by detecting genetic risk at the earliest stage, citing that over 100 million Americans live with at least one chronic disease. Noor Siddiqui, a former Thiel Fellow with a Stanford master's degree in computer science who previously founded a healthcare augmented-reality startup called Remedy and taught a Stanford course on reproductive technology, is identified in 2021 press coverage as Orchid's founder.
Founding story
Press coverage from May 2021 describes Orchid as a then two-year-old San Francisco startup founded by Noor Siddiqui, who was 26 at the time. Siddiqui was a Thiel Fellow — a program giving $100,000 to young people to pursue invention and entrepreneurship instead of formal schooling — and earlier founded Remedy, a startup that aimed to use Google's augmented reality glasses to support healthcare providers, which did not succeed. She subsequently earned a master's degree in computer science from Stanford and in 2019 taught a three-month Stanford course titled "The Frontiers of Reproductive Technology."
Business model
Orchid sells laboratory-based genetic testing services delivered through fertility care: tests are ordered by a patient's IVF physician, embryo biopsies are processed in Orchid's own laboratories, and reports are delivered alongside genetic counseling sessions. The company also offers a direct preconception test for couples. Sales roles focus on signing partner fertility clinics and integrating Orchid's testing into their IVF workflows, indicating a clinic-channel model that drives patient volume.
Revenue derives from paid genetic testing products — the Embryo Report (per-embryo whole genome screening spanning PGT-WGS, PGT-M and PGT-SR) and the Couple Report preconception test — sold to prospective parents in connection with IVF cycles.
Traction
Orchid's website cites CAP and CLIA certification, trust from physicians, patient testimonials and three publications on whole genome embryo screening. Careers material describes a rapidly growing team and open roles spanning statistical genetics, recruiting and strategic clinic accounts across engineering, bioinformatics, operations, sales and wet-lab functions.
Latest developments
Orchid's site presents an Embryo Report combining PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR and PGT-P outputs, a four-step workflow with board-certified genetic counselor consultations before and after testing, a patient risk calculator, and three cited publications including clinical validation of whole-genome screening on standard trophectoderm biopsies and a study of concordance between embryo genome sequencing and live-born children. The company is hiring a Senior Statistical Geneticist, a Recruiter and a Strategic Accounts Lead, all remote-friendly.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Orchid competes in preimplantation genetic testing for embryos, where 2021 press coverage identified New Jersey-based Genomic Prediction — founded in 2017 and then reporting availability in 200 IVF clinics worldwide — as the other company offering embryo assessment and selection based on disease risk. Orchid positions itself on breadth of data, contrasting whole genome coverage against targeted alternatives, and on running screening in its own CAP- and CLIA-certified labs.
Orchid's stated differentiator is genomic breadth: sequencing over 99% of an embryo's genome rather than under 1%, enabling detection of monogenic risks across neurodevelopmental disorders, pediatric and adult-onset cancers and birth defects alongside polygenic risk scores, and consolidating PGT-A, PGT-M, PGT-SR and PGT-P results into one report. It also emphasizes in-house CAP/CLIA-certified laboratories, published clinical validation work, and mandatory pre- and post-test consultations with board-certified genetic counselors.
Technology
Orchid performs whole genome sequencing on standard trophectoderm biopsies of preimplantation embryos, stating it sequences over 99% of an embryo's DNA versus less than 1% for alternative approaches, with the percentage based on validation studies using genomic regions of NIST Genome in a Bottle (GIAB) samples. Analysis combines monogenic screening with polygenic risk scores derived from GWAS summary statistics and large-scale genetic datasets. Laboratory operations are CAP and CLIA certified. Published work cited by the company covers the first clinical validation of whole-genome screening on standard trophectoderm biopsies, performance and case studies of preimplantation genetic testing via whole genome screening, and concordance of high-fidelity embryo genome sequencing with live-born children.
Go-to-market
The company markets to patients through its website with a risk calculator, downloadable guides, testimonials, podcast and scheduled calls with specialists, and to clinicians through a dedicated clinician section covering the underlying science and publications. A strategic accounts sales function develops relationships with fertility clinics and reproductive endocrinologists, conducts scientific presentations to medical professionals, and integrates Orchid's testing into clinic IVF workflows. 2021 press coverage characterized Orchid as part of a wave of Silicon Valley companies promoting lab tests directly to consumers, using a waitlist ahead of test availability.
Prospective parents and couples undergoing or considering IVF, particularly those with a family history of inherited disease; and, as the channel partner, fertility clinics, reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and IVF centers.
Geography
Headquartered in San Francisco, with all listed roles remote-friendly; testing is delivered through partner fertility clinics and IVF centers.
History
Orchid was described in May 2021 as a two-year-old company selling genetic tests covering schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, cancer and seven other diseases, with embryo tests announced and a customer waitlist ahead of planned availability later that year. By 2021 the company reported $4.6 million in seed funding. The current product line has expanded into a full whole genome embryo screening suite branded PGT-WGS alongside PGT-M, PGT-SR and the Couple Report, supported by in-house CAP/CLIA-certified laboratories and published validation studies.
Risks & controversies
The application of polygenic risk scores to embryo selection has drawn expert criticism. In May 2021, Peter Kraft, a Harvard epidemiology professor who helped develop polygenic risk scores, said Orchid's use of them concerned him, raising the possibility that parents could select an embryo at reduced risk for one disease without understanding it carried higher risk for another, and questioned how clearly the company counsels parents on likely benefit. Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz of the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine said he was especially concerned about claims to reduce schizophrenia risk given the history of discrimination against people with psychiatric disorders. The same coverage noted that lab tests and fertility treatments in the U.S. are lightly regulated, and that Siddiqui did not respond to numerous requests to answer questions, having instead spoken in forums friendly to technology entrepreneurs; Siddiqui countered that objections to giving parents access to such information are paternalistic.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 3
launches, deals, and filingsFounder Noor Siddiqui said Orchid had raised $4.6 million in seed funding from investors including 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki and Coinbase founders Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam.
$4.6M source ↗
Los Angeles Times coverage in which a Harvard epidemiology professor who helped develop polygenic risk scores and a Baylor College of Medicine medical ethics researcher raised concerns about how Orchid applies polygenic risk scores, trade-offs across diseases, counseling of parents, and screening for schizophrenia risk.
Orchid announced availability of its embryo tests, with prospective customers able to join a waitlist; the company said the embryo tests would be available later in 2021. The process began with an at-home saliva test of both parents, followed by ranking of embryos for disease risk ('embryo prioritization') at fertility clinics offering Orchid's tests.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structure▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- Orchid Healthorchidhealth.com · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Orchid Health do?
- Reproductive technology company offering whole genome sequencing-based genetic screening of IVF embryos and preconception couple testing.
- Who are Orchid Health's investors?
- Orchid Health's investors include Balaji Srinivasan, Carnrite Ventures, Hartmann Capital, Pebblebed, Refactor Capital.
- How much funding has Orchid Health raised?
- Orchid Health has disclosed $3M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Where is Orchid Health headquartered?
- Orchid Health is headquartered in San Francisco, US.